Fluid measuring device



N. GRUBELIC FLUID MEASURING DEVICE Aug. 3 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1950 INVENTOR.- NICHOLAS GRUBELIG ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1954 Fil ed June 20, 1950 N. GRUBELIC FLUID MEASURING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. NICHOLAS GRUBELIG &Q@

ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1954 N. GRUBELIC 2,685,135 FLUID MEASURING DEVICE Filed June 20, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 llli: il

IN VEN TOR.

F2: 3511. NICHOLAS GRUBELIC ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 19 54 2,685,135 FLUID MEASURING DEVICE Nicholas Grubelic, Williston Park, N. Y., assignor of fifty per cent to Israel Kushner, Great Neck, N

Application June 20,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for measuring fluids. It is particularly directed to a machine for measuring quantities of different basic color paints, poured into a receptacle to obtain the desired proportion of the paint, conforming to a formula.

One object of this invention is to generally improve the device disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 606,354 filed July 21, 1945, for Fluid Measuring Device issued as Patent No. 2,563,601 on August 7, 1951.

Another object of this invention is to provide a highly simplified machine of the character described for measuring predetermined amounts of different basic color paints for filling diiierent total volumes of paint, for example, a 4 oz. can, a 1 pt. can, a 1 qt. can, a gal. can, or a 1 gal. can, with the use of only a single counter or dial and with the use of transmission gearing.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, highly simplified means for changing the device to adapt it for measuring diflerent total quantities, such change being accomplished by mere shifting of one part of the machine from one position to another.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, a base provided with grooves of various diameters the rim edge at the lower end of a can, so that the can will rest fiat on its bottom wall, so that as the can fills with paint the bottom wall will not belly downwardly, whereby to permit accurate measurement of paint in the can.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a rugged and compact machine of the character described which shall be easy to manipulate, which shall comprise few and simple parts,

1950, Serial No. 169,255 (01. 33-126.7)

embodying the invention, with parts broken away and in cross-section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, with parts broken away and in cross-section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical elevational view of the device, with parts broken away and in crosssection;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of part of the device and illustrating the transmission gearing;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 5-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 'I-I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view showing the nut on the vertical screw shaft;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line IilIIl of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional View taken on line I2I2 of Fig. 10.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I0 designates a measuring machine embodying the invention. The same comprises a base II which may comprise a casting of aluminum or other metal, or other suitable material. Said base is hollow at its underside. The base II comprises a top wall I2. Extending downwardly from the front of the base is a semi-cylindrical wall I3. Extending downwardly from the outer side of the base is a skirted wall III which merges with the semi-cylindriea1 wall I3. Extending downwardly from the rear of the top wall is a rear skirted wall I5 at right angles to the wall I4. Extending downwardly from the side of the top wall I2, opposite to the wall I4, is a wall I 6, likewise merging with and tangent to the semicylindrical wall I3. Extending from the side wall I5 is a top horizontal wall I8 at a level lower than the top wall I2. Extending downwardly from the rear of the top wall I8 is a wall I 9 which merges with the rear wall I5 and forms an extension thereof. Extending downwardly from the front of the top wall I8 is a front wall 26 which extends to the wall I6. Extending downwardly from the left end of the top wall I8 is an end wall 2|. At the junction of the walls 20 and 2| is a front corner leg 22. At the junction of the rear wall I9 and the end wall 2| is a rear leg 23. Extending downwardly from the semicylindrical wall I3 is a leg 25, and at the junction of the walls I4 and I5 is a rear corner leg 26 similar to the legs 22, 23 and 25. The base thus rests on its legs 22,23, 25 and 26.

The top wall 12 is formed in its upper surface with an annular groove 2? of such diameter that a pint paint can placed on the base will have the lower rim edge thereof received within the groove 21. Said base is also formed with an annular groove 28 merging with the groove 2'! at one point, and otherwise surrounding the same and of such diameter as of a quart paint can placed on the base. Said base is also provided with an annular groove 29 in its top surface, spaced from the merging portions of the groove 21, 28, and of such diameter as to receive the lower rim edge of a /2 gallon paint can placed on the base. Said base is also provided in its upper surface with a groove 35 merging with the groove 29 and of such diameter as to receive the lower edge of a gallon paint can placed on the base.

With such construction either a pint, quart, /2 gallon or gallon paint can placed on the base will have its bottom wall contacting the top surface of the base so that when paint is poured into the can, its bottom wardly as is the case when the can rests on its rim edge instead of its bottom wall.

It will be noted that the groove an substantially follows the curvature of the semi-cylindrical wall 13.

The front wall furthermore is formed with a horizontal external shoulder a, and the end wall 2i is formed with a horizontal external shoulder Zia at the same level as the shoulder 25a. is furthermore formed with a pair of parallel spaced horizontal grooves 32 and 33 extending from front to rear, and with an additional horizontal groove 3 extending from side to side and communicating with the groove 33.

I'he side wall it is formed with a horizontal through opening below the top wall 52 and close to the rear wall [5. The wall it is formed with a horizontal through opening 35 aligned with the opening appearing. Said top wall i2 is furthermore formed in the rear right corner thereof with a threaded vertical through opening 31 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Mounted on the wall i8 of the base is a frame member 4a which may likewise be made of a casting of aluminum or other suitable metal. The frame Ml comprises a pair of parallel side walls M and 42 having lower edges contacting the grooved surfaces 32 and 33 respectively. The top wall it is formed with through openings 4-3 to receive studs M- extending through such openings and said studs being screwed into threaded openings 55 in the side walls 4!, ":2 for fixing the frame to the base. The side walls 4|, 42 are intel-connected by a rear wall 18 from which extends inwardly a web Mia likewise interconnecting side walls. The side walls 4|, 42 are formed with aligned through openings 41 horizontally aligned with the openings Within the openings 3'! are ball bearings 48 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Extending upwardly from the right end of the rear wall as is an upstanding wall 50 projecting to a considerable height above the side walls ll, 42. Extending forwardly from the upper end of the rear wall Si! is a top lug 5|. Extending forwardly from the side ed s f e r wall are parallel, vertical strengthening ribs 52. Extending forwardly to receive the lower rim edge wall will not belly down- The upper surface l3a of the top wall 18 35 for the purpose hereinafter 35 and 35.

from the lower end of the rear Wall 50 is a bottom lug 53. The bottom lug 53 merges with the side wall 412. The side wall 4| is formed adjacent its rear end with an upstanding projection 54. The projection 54 is formed with a horizontal through opening 55. At the lower end of the left rib 52 is a horizontal through opening 56 aligned with the opening 55. The bottom lug 53 is formed with a vertical through opening 58 in which is fixed a bushing 59. The top lug 5| is formed with a vertical through opening 60, vertically aligned with the opening 58. The top lug 5! is furthermore formed with a vertical through opening spaced forwardly of the through opening 50. The opening 6| may be of smaller diameter than the opening 6!].

Attached to the outer side of the wall i of the base is a bearing block 64 formed with a through opening 65 receiving the ball bearing 66, the opening of which is aligned or coaxial with the opening 35. The block 64 may be attached to the wall M by screws or in any other suitable manner. Extending through the ball bearing 66 of the bearing block 64 and through the ball bearing 48 in the openings 41 is a horizontal shaft 61. The shaft 61 also passes through the openings 35 and 3B which are larger than the shaft. Said shaft 51 lies below the top wall l2 but above the top wall l8. Fixed to the right end of the shaft 61 (which projects beyond the bearing block 64) is a handle 68 for turning the shaft. Fixed to the shaft 61 and disposed between the parallel walls 4! and 42 and adjacent to the wall 42 is a worm wheel 69 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Also fixed to the shaft 51 and located between the worm wheel 69 and the vertical end wall ll is a gear 10, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

Mounted for rotation on and between the top and bottom lugs Si, 53 is a vertical screw 10a. The screw 10a comprises a reduced shaft portion H passing through the bushing 59. Extending from the lower end of the shaft portion H is another reduced shaft portion 12 on which is fixed a worm gear 13 meshing with the worm wheel 59. At the lower end of the shaft 12 is a pin "Ma to retain the vertical position of the worm gear 1 The screw 19a comprises an enlarged screw threaded portion "M, the lower end of which rests on the thrust bushing 59. Extending above the screw threaded portion 14 is a portion '1 5 having an enlarged portion 16 journalled within the opening 55. Extending above the enlarged portion i=3 is a rounded upper end portion i! which projects somewhat above the opening Bil. Fixed to the top lug 5! by a pair of screws 18 is a free ended strip spring 19 contacting the top of the rounded upper end portion 11 of member a to keep the screw from moving upwardly.

It will now be observed that upon rotating the handle 58 shaft 8? will be rotated and worm wheel 69 meshing with the worm gear 13 will rotate the screw member Illa. On the screw threaded portion 1 1 of member 10a is a travelling nut Bil. The nut is formed with a vertical screw threaded opening 8|, the threads of which engage the threads of the screw threaded portion i l. Said nut Bil is also formed with a vertical through opening 82 parallel to the opening 3i and in alignment with the opening 5| in the top lug 5|. Said nut is furthermore formed with a horizontal through opening 83 transverse to the opening 82 and communicating therewith. The nut is furthermore formed with a horizontal transverse through opening 84 disposed between threaded opening 8| of the rear surface 85 of the nut. Extending through the through opening 84 is a transverse shaft 86. Rotatably mounted on one end of the shaft 86 is a roller 8'! having rolling engagement with one of the ribs 52 of the frame 00. Interposed between the other end and shaft 86 and the other rib 52 is a strip spring 88 having a U-shaped portion 89 engaging the shaft and curved end fingers 90 having sliding engagement with said other rib 52. Thus as the shaft 61 is rotated for rotating member 10a about its axis, the nut 80 will will move either up or down, depending upon the direction of rotation. The nut will be guided by engagement of the roller 81 with one rib 52 and engagement of the fingers 90 of the spring 88 with the other rib 52.

Received within the transverse opening 83 is a transverse shaft 92 which traverses the opening 82. Inserted into the opening 83 is the lower end of a vertical tube 94. The lower end of the tube 04 is flush with the undersurface of the nut 80. The tube projects through the opening i and above the upper lug The tube 94 is formed with openings registering with the openings 83 and through which the shaft 92 passes, thus fixing the lower end of the tube to the nut. The upper and lower ends of the tube are open. The upper end of the tube is furthermore formed with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slots or notches 05 extending down from the upper edge of the tube. It will now be observed that as the nut is moved up and down the tube will slide through the opening 0i, there being enough clearance between the tube and the inner surface of the opening to permit free movement of the tube up and down. The tube hence moves up or down with the nut 80.

Mounted on th tube is a level indicator member I00. The indicator member I00 comprises a vertical rod portion IOI disposed within the tube. The lower end of said vertical rod portion IOI rests on the transverse shaft 92, The straight rod portion IOI extends abov the upper end of the tube 34. Extending from the upper end of the vertical rod portion IOI is a curved portion I03 and extending therefrom is a-downwardly inclined portion I04. Extending downwardly from portion I04 is a vertical portion I05. Portion I05 extends to a point below the lower end of the vertical rod portion I 0|. In the portion I05 is a forwardly bent intermediate portion I05.

Thus the portions IOI, I03 and I04 and the upper part of portion I05 are in a single plane and the lower end of portion I05 below portion I06 is in a plane forwardly of portions I M, I03 and I04. Th lower end of the indicator portion I05 is flattened and screwed thereto by means of screws I01 is an indicator plate I08. The plate I08 is generally triangular in shape. It has downwardly and outwardly diverging edges I09 and H0 and a lower downwardly and outwardly inclined. edge HI. At the junction of the edges IIO, III is a downwardly extending lip H2. The front face of the indicator plate I08 may be provided with a pair of spaced indicator marks II 3 extending to the edg I I I. Fixed to the upper end of vertical portion IOI is a transverse pin II5 projecting in opposite directions, and the projecting portions are received in the slots 95, to keep the indicator member from rotating about the tube 90. The indicator member may be lifted out of the tube at any time. When the outer ends of the pin II5 are in the slots 95, the indicator plate I08 is above the portion of the top surface of the base which is within the annular groove 21. Thus should a can of any size be placed on the base the indicator plate will move through the can.

Supported within the aligned openings 55, 55 is a transverse shaft or axl I IT. The shaft may be fixed against turning by means of a set screw M8 on the projection 54. The shaft II'I may be formed with 5 annular spaced grooves I20 and with a central annular groove I2I, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Slidably and swingably mounted on the shaft II! is a gear bracket #22. The bracket I22 may be made as a casting likewise of aluminum or any other suitable metal. It is somewhat of H shape comprising a transverse portion I23, a pair of rearwardly extending lugs I24 and I25 extending from the transverse portion I23, and a pair of forwardly extending portions I26 and I27 likewise extending from the transverse portion I23. The portions I 24 and I25 are formed with aligned through openings E28 and I29 respectively, through which the shaft or axle II'I passes. On the lug I25 is a spring pressed ball I30 (Fig. 12) adapted to selectively snap into the various grooves I20 to keep the member I22 from accidentally sliding relative to the shaft, while permitting said member I22 to swing about the shaft. Thus the spring pressed ball will keep member I22 in any one of 5 positions or other selected number of positions.

The lug I26 is formed with a through opening I32 and portion I 21 is formed with a through opening I33 aligned with the opening I32. The outer edge of member I21 may be formed with a notch I34. Extending through the openings I32, I33 is a rotary gear shaft I36 parallel to and spaced from axle III. At one end of the shaft I35 is a thumb handle I31 to facilitate rotating said shaft. The other end of the shaft I36 is reduced and screwed thereon is a nut I38 which may be partially received in the notch I34. Nut I38 presses against bushing I38a on the reduced portion of the shaft I36. On the shaft I36 are fixed a set of gears I30, I40, MI, I42 and I43, which may be selectively engaged with the gear 50. Spacers may be interposed between the gears. The nut I38 presses the bushing to clamp the gears together. It will now be understood that the operator may grasp the handle I31 and swing member I22 upwardly about shaft Ill and then move said member I22 longitudinally to bring any one of the gears I39, I40, I4I, I42 or I43 into alignment with the gear 10. Gears I39 to I53 are spaced apart similarly to grooves I20. Member I22 can then be dropped to mesh the aligned gears. The spring pressed ball I30 will retain the shaft I30 in any longitudinal position to which it is shifted. The gear I39 may be fixed to the shaft I36 in any suitabl manner as for example by a set screw I44 on a collar I 45 which contacts the projection I26.

The portion I27 of member I22 has an upwardly and rearwardly beveled or inclined surface I 47. Fixed thereon is a counter I40. The counter may be of any suitable type and comprises a plurality of numbered wheels interconnected by transfer gearing. For the purpose of illustration the counter is shown to comprise 3 numbered wheels. Each has the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, '7, 8, 9, on its periphery so that the counter can give a count from 0 to 999. The counter is provided with an operating shaft 250 projecting from the counter. On the counter shaft I is a gear I5I which may mesh'with the gear I42. It will now be understood that when the member I22 is permitted to drop down by gravity and the shaft 61 is thereafter rotated, shaft I36 will be rotated for rotating the counter shaft I50 through its gear [5 I. When the handle I31 is grasped and the shaft I36 raised up, to swing the member I22 upwardly, then the handle I31 can be turned for adjusting the counter to any desired reading independently of the shaft 61.

Attached to the top surface of transverse portion I23 of member I22 is a cover scale member I60 made of sheet metal, if desired. Member I60 has a flange I6I contacting the upper surface of part I23 and is attached thereto by means of screws I62. from flange I6I is a portion I63 from which extends forwardly a wall I64 which overlies the gears on the shaft I36. Extending downwardly from wall I64 is a lip I65. The top surface of portion I64 may be marked with a scale I61 to indicate the total quantities of paint to be measured. Thus the scale may have a 4 oz. mark aligned with gear I43, a 1 pt. mark aligned with gear I42, a 1 qt. mark aligned with gear I4I, a /2 gal. mark aligned with gear I40, and a 1 gal. mark aligned with gear I39.

Rotatably mounted on shaft H1 is a collar I68 and attached thereto by means of a set screw I69 is a pointer I10. The forward end of the pointer overlies the scale I61. The pointer will either point to the 4 a., 1 pt., '1 qt., /2 gal. or 1 gal. mark, on the scale I61, depending upon the longitudinal position to which the shaft I36 is shifted. The set screw I69 projects into the groove I2I to prevent sideways shifting of the collar I68. Thus when member I22 is down the operator can know whether the machine is set for filling either a 4 oz. can, a 1 pt. can, a 1 qt. can, a /2 gal. can, or a 1 gal. can. The gears 10, I39 to I43 and I5I are so selected in relation to the worm wheel 69, worm 13 and screw portion 14 so as to raise the indicator I00 proper vertical distances in any adjusted position of the shaft I36.

One selection of gearing and screw threads may be as follows: The screw threads on the screw shaft portion 14 maybe 13 per inch. The worm and worm gear 69, 13 may be so selected that 6 turns of shaft 61 will raise the nut one inch. Gear may have 44 teeth for lacquer paint, or 48 teethfor synthetic paint, gear I39 may have 48 teeth, gear I40 may have 37 teeth, gear I4I may have 31 teeth, gear I42 may have 24 teeth, gear I43 may have 18 teeth and gear I5I may have 48 teeth. Thus two revolutions of shaft I36 will cause one revolution of counter shaft I50. such an arrangement the machine is used for formulae using a scale of 200.

The use of the machine will not be described. Let us assume that a one gallon can of synthetic paint is to be mixed. The gallon can is first placed on the top wall I2 of the base with the bottom rim of the can disposed within the groove 30. The handle 68 is then turned until the lip II2 on the indicator plate I08 touches the bottom of the can. The handle I31 is then grasped and raised and turned to bring the counter dial to a reading of 980. Shaft I36 is then shifted to bring the pointer I10 to the one gallon mark on the scale I61. Member I22 is then dropped so that gear I39 will mesh with the gear 10. (Gear 10 for synthetic paint should be 48 teeth.) The handle 68 is then rotated to .a position where the dial on the counter reads 0, 0, 0. Drier is then poured into the can to a level between where Extending upwardly and forwardly With the markings II3 intersect the edge III on the indicator plate I08.

Let us assume that the formula for the paint to be measured is as follows: black 23, blue 68, white 107, yellow 200.

The handle 68 is then turned until the dial on the counter reads 23. During this movement the indicator is raised. Black paint is then poured into the gallon can to the level between where the markings H3 intersect the edge III on the indicator plate I08. The handle is then turned until the counter dial reads 68 and blue paint is poured into the gallon can to the indication point on the indicator plate I 08. The handle is then turned until the counter dial reads 107 and white paint is poured to the level of the indlcator. The handle is then turned until the counter dial reads 200 and yellow paint is poured in to the indicator level. At this time the gallon can is full.

The worm wheel '69 and worm 13 are so selected that 6 /2 turns of shaft 61 will raise the nut one inch. Thus one turn of the shaft 61 will cause two turns of the screw member 10a. 40 turns of shaft 61 will cause a rise of the nut 6 7 Forty turns of the shaft 61 will cause 40 turns of shaft I36 when gears I39 and 10 are each 48 teeth, but the counter shaft will make 20 turns to read 200 on the indicator dial because gear I42 has 24 teeth and the indicator shaft gear I5I has 48 teeth. The amount of drier in the gallon can will be sufiicient to bring the total height of paint in the can to about 6% which is the height of the gallon can.

For lacquer paint no drier is used. The machine is started with the nut all the way down and the dial at o, 0, 0. Thinner is poured into the can to the level of the indicator. Then the formula is worked bringing the dial to a reading of 200. A reading of 200 on the dial means 20 turns on the counter dial shaft or 40 turns on shaft I36. When lacquer paint is being mixed, gear 10 should have 44 teeth so that 40 turns on shaft I36 will give a little more than 43 turns of the shaft 61 which will give a rise of somewhat 6.7" on the nut. The rest of the gallon can is taken up by the thinner.

While this application mentions certain gear specifications, it will be understood that any suitable selected gear ratios may be used. For diferent counter d als the gears may be changed accordingly. Thus if it is desired to use a counter dial of 100 parts instead of 200 parts, the counter shaft gear I5I would be replaced by a gear which meshes with the gear I39 so that the angular rotation of the shaft I36 would be the same a the angular rotation of the shaft I50.

Means is provided to support cans of basic paints which are poured into the mixing cans placed on the base wall I2. To this end there is screwed into the threaded opening 31 the lower end of a vertical rod I80. Mounted on the shaft I80 at two different levels are transverse pins I8I and I82, passing through transverse openings Nile and I82a respectively, formed in the rod, Rotatably mounted on the shaft and resting either on the pin I82 or I8I is a bracket I84 having an arm I85 extending radially from the rod I30 and an arm I86 extending at an angle to the arm I85 and formed with a cut-away slot I81 in its upper end. The can of basic paint to be poured may be rested on the arm I86.

A casing I99 is provided to enclose the frame member 40. Said casing I90 comprises a rear part of member I90a having a vertical back wall I9I from which extend forwardly side walls I92 and I 93 and a top li I94. The lower portions of the side walls extend more forwardly than the upper portions thereof, forming intermediate forwardly and downwardly inclined edges. The casing comprises a second part I901). The part I961) comprises a front wall I96 from which extends a wall I 9! inclined upwardly and rearwardly and contacting the inclined edges of the side walls. Extending upwardly from wall I91 is vertical wall I98 and extending therefrom is top wall I99.

The Walls I96, I91, I98 and I99 are formed with side flanges I96-a which fit over and receive the side walls of part IBM. The part I901) may be attached to the part I90a by any suitable screws or the like, passing through such flanges.

A lamp 299 may be attached to the upper end of the side wall I93. Said lamp comprises a reflector I supporting a lamp 292. The side wall I 9 2 is formed with a longitudinal slot 294 through which the shaft I 36 passes. The wall I 93 has a slot 208 at its lower end through which the shaft 6'! passes.

The top wall I99 is formed with a hole I99a through which the tube 94 projects. The wall I9! is formed with an opening I97a covered by a transparent window pane I 91b to permit the operator to see the scale I6! from the outside.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various posible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the character described comprising a base, a frame on said base, a screw mounted for rotation on the frame, a shaft mounted for rotation on the base, a handle on the shaft, a worm wheel on the shaft, a worm gear on the screw meshing with the worm wheel, a gear fixed on the shaft, a nut having threaded engagement with the screw, a level indicator mounted on the nut for movement therewith, an axle fixed to the frame and disposed parallel to the shaft, a member pivoted about the axle and slidable thereon, a second shaft rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said member, a set of gears of different sizes mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith and selectively engageable with the gear on the first shaft, a counter on said member and including a counter shaft, and a gear on the counter shaft meshing with one of the gears of said set of gears.

2. A paint measuring device comprising a base having a top surface on which a paint can be placed, an extension on the base having a top surface at a lower level than the first surface, a frame fixed on top of said extension, a horizontal shaft mounted for rotation on the base and frame, said frame having a vertical portion and being formed with top and bottom lugs, a screw rotatably mounted on said lugs and disposed in vertical position, a worm gear at the lower end of the screw, a worm wheel on the shaft meshing with said worm, a nut meshing with the screw, a tube mounted at its lower end on the nut, said upper lug having an opening through which said tube passes, a level indicator having an arm received within the tube and another arm disposed above the upper surface of the base, a handle on the shaft, a gear fixed to the shaft and rotatable therewith, an axle on the frame parallel to the shaft, a member pivotally and slidably mounted on said axle and being rotatable about the axle and shiftable longitudinally thereof, a counter mounted on said member, a set of gears mounted for rotation on said member about an axis parallel to and spaced from said axle and selectively engageable with the gear on said shaft, and driving means to connect the counter with one of the gears in said set.

3. A. device of the character described com prising a base, a frame on said base, a screw mounted for rotation on the frame, a shaft mounted for rotation on the base, a handle on the shaft, a worm wheel on the shaft, a worm gear on the screw meshing with the worm wheel, a gear fixed on the shaft, a nut having threaded engagement with the screw, a level indicator mounted on the nut for movement therewith, an axle fixed to the frame and disposed parallel to the shaft, a member pivoted about the axle and slidable thereon, a second shaft rotatably and non slidably mounted on said member, a set of gears of different sizes mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith and selectively engageable with the gear on the first shaft, a counter on said member and including a counter shaft, a gear on the counter shaft meshing with one of the gears of said set of gears, and a scale fixed to said member and overlying said set of gears.

4. A device of the character described comprising a base, a frame on said base, a screw mounted for rotation on the frame, a shaft mounted for rotation on the base, a handle on the shaft, a worm wheel on the shaft, a worm gear on the screw meshing with the worm wheel, a gear fixed on the shaft, a nut having threaded engagement with the screw, a level indicator mounted on the nut for movement therewith, an axle fixed to the frame and disposed parallel to the shaft, a member pivoted about the axle and slidable thereon, a second shaft rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said member, a set of gears of different sizes mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith and selectively engageable with the gear on the first shaft, a counter on said member and including a counter shaft, a gear on the counter shaft meshing with one of the gears of said set of gears, a scale fixed to said member and overlying said set of gears, and a pointer rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said axle and adapted to cooperate with said scale.

5. A device of the character described comprising a base, a frame on said base, a screw mounted for rotation on the frame, a shaft mounted for rotation on the base, a handle on the shaft, a worm wheel on the shaft, a worm gear on the screw meshing with the worm wheel, a gear fixed on the shaft, a nut having threaded engagement with the screw, a level indicator mounted on the nut for movement therewith, an axle fixed to the frame and disposed parallel to the shaft, a member pivoted about the axle and slidable thereon, a second shaft rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said member, a set of gears of different sizes mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith and selectively engageable with the gear on the first shaft, a counter on said member and including a counter shaft, a gear on the counter shaft meshing with one of the gears of said set of gears, a scale fixed to said member and overlying said set of gears, a pointer rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said axle and adapted to cooperate with said scale, and means to retain said set of gears in a plurality of various longitudinal positions of said set of gears.

6. A device of the character described comprising a base, a frame on said base, a screw mounted for rotation on the frame, a shaft mounted for rotation on the base, a handle on the shaft, a worm wheel on the shaft, a worm gear on the screw meshing with the worm wheel, a gear fixed on the shaft, a nut having threaded engagement with the screw, a level indicator mounted on the nut for movement therewith, an axle fixed to the frame and disposed parallel to the shaft, a member pivoted about the axle and slidable thereon, a second shaft rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said member, a set of gears of different sizes mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith and selectively engageable with the gear on the first shaft, a counter on said member and including a count-er shaft, a gear on the counter shaft meshing with one of the gears of said set of gears, a scale fixed to said member and overlying said set of gears, a pointer rotatably and-non-slidably mounted on said axle and adapted to cooperate with said scale, means to retain said set of gears in a plurality of various longitudinal positions of said set of gears, and a casing mounted on said base and enclosing said frame and provided with a window opening above said scale.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 45,741 Olds Jan. 3, 1865 1,967,559 Schreck July 24, 1934 2,090,487 Schwartz Aug. 17, 1937 2,354,259 Grubelic July 25, 1944 2,399,291 ONeill Apr. 30, 1946 2,469,305 Maltese May 3, 1949 2,476,674 McCauley July 19, 1949 2,487,825 Olvis Nov. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 408,394 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1934 

